The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-03-04
PRIZE BOXES FOR OoUETRYMEN.
What They Get For Trying to Buy Coun-
terfeit Money.

fhIIh bUAh6 fOh UOUNIh Min.
Whist They Get For Trying to Buy COun-
terfeit Money.
John Hodge Of Bogopolis, was sitting
on fve-rail fence. Not that John had
nothing better than a flve-rail fence to
sit upon, but It suited his playful humor
to sit there rather than upon one of the
three legged stools or brolen-ba cl- ed
chairs with which his house was fur
nished.
John was an humble minded son OF
agriculture, sometimes yclCpt "yokcl,
and he barely knew enough TO read his
newspaper and write q letter full OF
originnlity-in the spelling.
As John Hodge sat upon the five-railed
fence he was reading his paper. He was
not reading the news, but the adver-
tiScmcnts. Away down in the depths
of his soul John had long cherished
hope that some day he would be called
to a higher sphere Of usefulness.
Perhaps some one would advertise for
a nice, healthy country boy to become
President of the United States, or the
elevated railroad, or something OF that
kind. John did not find such an ad-
advertisements, but he did find this:
"Attentioni 5000 for $500, Fortunes
made every day. Address S. S. O., p.
O. Box 9,999 n. Y"
Hodge was astonished and delighted.
A feeling OF unspeakable satisfaction
spread over him as he remembered that
he had twice 5000 In the savings bank.
He jumped down of the rail fence
rushed into the house, and addressed
IS. ). O." Two days later he received
a letter which told him that personal
interview would be necessary. A time
and place were appointed.
John was there. He met a charming
gentleman with a benevolent, not to say
patriarchal air. The gentleman took
John to his ONCE and laid a pile OF
crisp, brand-new bank notes before
him.
DO you see anything the matter
with those?" asked the gentleman.
NO" said john I'D like to have as
many Of them as could carry"
SO you shall. But first come with
me-"
Then the gentleman took John across
the street to a bank. He showed the
bills to the Paying Teller and said:
Is there anything the matter with
thoseE"
No" said the Teller, after carefully
examining them. The gentleman
thanked the Paying Teller and took
John back to his Office.
Now, " said he, those bills are coun-
terfeits. l know, for l made them"
"Jee-rickety - exclaimed John.
You eau have 5000 OF them for 5000,
or 81 500 for 800"
John hesitated. The bait was very
tempting. Finally he said:
Well, guess I'll begin on 5000"
Il haven't that much on hand now.
I'll have to make them. You can pay
me the $500, and I'll give you my note
for thirty days; and when you receive
the goods you can send me back the
note"
That's square dealing" said John.
He paid the 5000, and received the note
of Thomas Samuels.
''I'Il send you the goods by Adams
Express" said Mr.. Samuels.
John departed fully satisfied, and went
back to Bogopols with a light heart
and fiat pocketbook. Several days
later he received a package carefully
sealed 1t was heavy. John wondered
little at its weight, but FASTENED 10 his
room to open it. With trembling fin
gers he tore open the wrapping, and
found within box. He opened the box
and found in that-nOt money but
Sawdust
John nearly tainted. His money had
been stolen. But by whom? The ex-
press agent of course. No one else
could have taken the IN 0ney out and
resealed the package so neatly.
John wrote the following letter to the
express company:
Adams Express Company New York on
the goth Of december 7 had cash
deposeted in Branch Office 6S4 Broadway
New York amount was six hundred
dollars packed int a small wood box
marked John Hodge Bogopolis y. J. sam
box cam to hand and nota cent of money
in the box, have the Receipt Received
of G. Please investigate and let me
hear from you soon the party gave me
his name T. Samuels, 1 was in New
York at the time and saw him. Yours
truly JOHN HODGE. T
P. S. III loos that money l will pub
lish the circumstanc in the different New
York papers.
The express company put its detec-
tlvcs TO work on the case, and very soon
the agent In charge OF the Office at which
the box was sent, wrote full account OF
the matter to Superintendent William
Hoey.
He concluded his letter by saying:
'' finally learned enough to convince
me that he had gone to New York to
buy some green goods which could
not he distinguished from the genuine
article, and while there the sharpers had
held him up for the $500, same as
hundreds of other poor dupes have been.
taken In, and then they thought the
express company had done it. It is the
same old story. with which you and l
are SO familiar, but of which it is so hard
to convince the greenies."
Does this often happen?" an officer
ofthe company was asked.
&" Every day" was the answer. There
is class of cOuntrymen who visit New
York-not less than 20 a day-for the
purpose of purchasing counterfeit
money, and the old game Is invariably
played upon thom
After these dupes have received the
sawdust, they write the express com
pany such letters as [ have shown you.
can give you enough OF them to make